Student support services and campus life
At times the transition to university or VET can be tough. The work is harder, everyone’s a stranger and you don’t know who to go to for help. Or maybe you’re ready to get out and have fun between classes but you don’t know what to do or how to meet people.
Luckily, there’s plenty of help available to get you back on track and enjoying your course. Both the higher education and VET sector (but only TAFE institutes) receive government funding to provide an amazing range of support services and recreation activities.
Universities
TAFE institutes
Universities
Universities generally offer most of the following programs and facilities, depending on campus size, student demand and funding from voluntary student contributions.
Study Skills Support Unit — Sometimes known as Student Learning Support Unit, this service gives advice on how to take good notes during lectures, research effectively, reference correctly and write A+ essays. You can usually take in work you are struggling with for them to look over with you.
Disability Liaison Office — Students registered with disability services can access a range of supports including Auslan interpreters, note takers, specialised computer programs and other equipment. Disability services can also act as liaison between teachers and students in discussing a student’s requirements and arranging alternative assessments such as using a scribe or computer in an exam.
Counselling — Trained counsellors can give confidential advice to students struggling with their studies, relationships or problems at home. You can see them to talk when you’re just feeling a bit down or if things get really bad, they can help you apply for special consideration.
Careers advice and job search assistance — Careers services provide counselling and guidance to students unsure of what field they want to enter after graduation and to final-year students looking for their first job. They may also provide advice and assistance to students seeking part-time work or work experience during their course.
Financial counselling and Centrelink help — See someone at financial services when you need advice on budgeting, consumer rights, student loans and other financial problems. Representatives from Centrelink often visit campuses once or twice a week to advise students on Youth Allowance, Abstudy or Austudy matters.
Campus childcare — Many campuses have childcare facilities offering subsidised rates to students and staff.
Student Health Service — On-campus nurses can provide first aid treatment, information and referrals on general medical or family planning matters. Students may also be able to make an appointment with a bulk billing doctor or access dental services at a reduced cost.
Housing Service — Housing service staff usually give information about on and off campus accommodation options for students and maintain a database or noticeboard of available rooms that students can search. They may also be able to advise you about tenancy laws and your rights as a renter.
Activities/Recreation Office — Activities is the place to go if you’re having trouble meeting people on campus. They can hook you up with a range of student events from sports to concerts to weekend trips. The Activities Office can also be a good source of free or cheap tickets and should be able to give you a heads up on the many free lunches happening around campus.
Libraries and computer labs — Access to well-stocked libraries and up-to-date computer labs makes it a lot easier to complete your assignments. Most facilities also stock plenty of fiction and magazines and allow personal internet use. Staff are on hand to answer any questions and usually run regular courses on information research skills.
Prayer rooms and chaplains — Prayer rooms provide a quiet place for students to pray and reflect during breaks. Often chaplains are also available for students seeking spiritual guidance or just looking for someone to talk to. You do not need to be a certain faith to speak with a chaplain and many universities have several chaplains from different faiths and denominations.
International Student Support Service — Overseas students face double the challenges adjusting to university life. International support staff arrange language classes, translation assistance, cultural activities and counselling for students suffering from culture shock and homesickness.
Student gym, clubs and societies — Universities aren’t just for studying. Cheap gym memberships and sporting clubs keep students moving between classes. For the more sedentary, the range of clubs and societies verges on the ridiculous with groups for everything from environmental activism to beer appreciation to medieval re-enactment.
Indigenous Support Unit — The Indigenous Support Programme (ISP) provides funding to higher education institutions to meet the special needs of Indigenous Australian students. These units specialise in learning skills, outreach and cultural programs for Indigenous students and can act as a liaison with lecturers or other services.
Women’s rooms or queer spaces — Some student unions set aside spaces for women or students of alternative sexual orientations to relax, socialise and discuss issues facing their group in an environment free of judgement, harassment or discrimination.
TAFE
TAFEs are generally a lot smaller than their university counterparts and fewer students are on campus full time. They tend to offer a scaled back student support program but you should still have access to libraries and computer labs, counselling, financial and careers advice, study skills classes, disability support, recreation activities and usually on-campus childcare.
As a bonus TAFE students are often able to access services from trainees in other departments at bargain rates. Cheap or free haircuts from the hairdressing school, discounted massage and beauty therapy treatments and fancy food at canteen prices in the hospitality students’ kitchen are some of the common perks.
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